Shark, a leader in the upright vacuum market, just released its first carpet cleaner. We bought one and evaluated it extensively over several weeks, comparing it to some seasoned competitors to create this comprehensive Shark CarpetXpert EX201 review.
We were initially skeptical about the EX201 since it’s Shark’s first attempt at a carpet cleaner. However, it performed really well in our studio. If you need an efficient carpet cleaning companion, this Shark CarpetXpert review will provide all the details necessary to make an informed decision.
The Shark CarpetXpert has one of the best power numbers we’ve seen, performing amazingly well with our wet and dried-on stain tests. It even outdid some of the best carpet cleaners in the industry and has an unparalleled attachment set. Features such as the onboard hose system, oxy solution mixing system, and easily emptied dirt bin are game changers that make it well worth the premium price. If you value thorough cleaning performance, then the Shark CarpetXpert just might be your next carpet cleaner. Read the full review.
- Exceptionally powerful suction
- Onboard hose enhances versatility
- Premium attachment set
- Dual activated solution dispensing
- Effective on both wet and dry stains
- Easy to empty and clean
- Lightweight and agile for its class
- Smaller water tank than competitors
- Only two water modes
The CarpetXpert provides a streamlined approach to carpet cleaning. Let’s explore what it can do for your home, starting with the basics.
The Shark CarpetXpert EX201
To use the CarpetXpert, fill the machine’s clean water tank with warm water and the included cleaning solution. Then, you’ll need to fill its separate oxy tank with Shark’s oxy solution.
Once that’s done, turn on the CarpetXpert and choose your preferred mode to begin cleaning. There’s a deep clean mode and an express mode. The deep clean mode is for comprehensive cleaning, while the express mode uses less water for quicker, lighter cleaning with faster drying times.
Like any standard vacuum, just move over your carpets in a back-and-forth motion.
The Shark CarpetXpert will automatically mix the solution and dispense water, eliminating the need to do them manually. This is unlike other carpet cleaners, where you usually need to use a manual trigger.
It also includes a built-in hose and attachment set for targeted spot cleaning, which we will explore shortly.
Shark CarpetXpert EX201 evaluation and performance
For our Shark CarpetXpert review, we put the product through many real-world situations, and it performed great. It even outperformed the Bissell Revolution HydroSteam in several aspects.
Suction power
The suction power of a carpet cleaner is crucial because it directly impacts the machine’s ability to pick up water. And the better your machine is at this, the deeper the cleaning is and the faster the drying time. We found that the CarpetXpert shines in this area.
In our evaluation, we measured its sealed suction at the hose and base, and its unsealed suction at the floorhead. The CarpetXpert was impressive and had the most powerful suction among carpet cleaners we’ve seen. For example, it scored way above average numbers at the floorhead.
Having something this reliable at home is always good since keeping a carpet clean extends its lifespan.
Shark CarpetXpert features
Onboard hose
A significant advantage of the Shark CarpetXpert is its onboard hose, which means that it will always be with you as you clean. So, whenever you come across those inevitable stubborn spots, you can quickly use the hose to spot clean without interrupting the main cleaning process.
The onboard hose significantly enhances user convenience and efficiency during cleaning sessions. In contrast, most other carpet cleaners require that you fetch and connect the hose, which is a hassle.
Attachment set
The Shark CarpetXpert EX201’s attachment set is phenomenal, featuring a selection of high-quality tools designed for various cleaning challenges.
Its main brush is durable and worked effectively for us. For example, on a head-to-head attachment comparison with the Bissell HydroSteam on wet grape juice stains (one pretreated and another without pretreatment), the Shark performed arguably better in both cases.
The main brush has a special plastic attachment designed for particularly challenging messes.
There’s also a pet urine brush, which separates most of the urine—making cleanup more efficient and hygienic for pet owners.
Another unique addition is what Shark calls a crevice tool, something new we haven’t seen with carpet cleaners before. Its purpose is to help you clean hard-to-reach areas more easily.
You’ll also find a hose cleaning tool and extra cleaning solution, which are excellent.
Dual-activated solution dispensing
This carpet cleaner comes with a dual-activated solution dispensing system, which keeps the oxy solution separate until the moment of contact, providing a cleaning power boost.
Shark claims that CarpetXpert’s dual-activated system increases cleaning power by 20%, which aligns with some of our pickup evaluation results.
We evaluated it with dried-on coyote urine against the Bissell HydroSteam, where one set of stains was pretreated with Hydrogen Peroxide and the other used Shark’s respective solution. The CarpetXpert outperformed the highly regarded HydroSteam, which is impressive. Especially considering the HydroSteam was our previous favorite pick.
Similarly, when pitted against the Bissell 2X Revolution with dried dirt stains, the Shark matched, if not exceeded, its competitor’s performance.
The Shark CarpetXpert has one of the best power numbers we’ve seen, performing amazingly well with our wet and dried-on stain tests. It even outdid some of the best carpet cleaners in the industry and has an unparalleled attachment set.
Interestingly, the Shark CarpetXpert achieves these results with a roller design that diverges from current trends. It features a single, fast-spinning roller, unlike the dual-roller systems commonly found in other models.
Moreover, the bristles aren’t especially stiff, a departure from the norm among other carpet cleaners in its class. That could be due to the fast-spinning brush, suction power, or the oxy mixture, but whatever Shark did, it’s working.
Dirty water tank
Another great thing about the Shark CarpetXpert EX201 is its dirty water tank. Unlike the often cumbersome process associated with emptying the tanks of some competitors, such as Bissell models, this one is designed for ease.
It comprises just two parts and has ample space, allowing you to rinse out the suds for storage quickly. This alone is a reason to buy it, in our opinion.
Ease of use
The CarpetXpert scores high on ease of use, striking a good balance between robust functionality and user-friendly design. While it’s not the lightest on the market, at 18 pounds, it is still lighter and more agile than most carpet cleaners. For instance, the Bissell HydroSteam weighs 22 pounds.
Cons of the Shark CarpetXpert
We can’t end this Shark CarpetXpert review without discussing the cons. While the carpet cleaner boasts many strengths, it has one potential limitation.
Water tank
The water tank capacity might raise eyebrows. At three-quarters of a gallon, it’s slightly smaller than the one-gallon tanks found in many competing models. This difference initially sparked concerns about the machine’s efficiency and endurance. So, we evaluated its water usage against the Bissel 2X Revolution, which comes with a one-gallon tank.
We found that the Shark CarpetXpert outperformed the Bissell regarding how many timed passes it could do. It did 16 timed passes compared to the Bissell’s 15, indicating the Shark uses less water per pass in its Max mode.
However, it’s important to note that the Bissell has three water modes compared to the CarpetXpert, which has two. Plus, we only tested their Max modes.
Overall, it does not seem like the smaller tank affects the carpet cleaner’s performance.
Shark CarpetXpert EX201 review: Value and final thoughts
The Shark CarpetXpert has one of the best power numbers we’ve seen, performing amazingly well with our wet and dried-on stain tests. It even outdid some of the best carpet cleaners in the industry and has an unparalleled attachment set.
Features such as the onboard hose system, oxy solution mixing system, and easily emptied dirt bin are game changers that make it well worth the premium price. So we highly recommend the Shark CarpetExpertEX201. If you value thorough cleaning performance, then the Shark CarpetXpert just might be your next carpet cleaner.
